Video vs audio. Which means more for HT?

[GMichael]

I know that this is a predominately audio board, but let's see what we get anyhow.
If you had to choose between great audio for your HT system or a great video, what would you choose. Remember, we're talking about HT systems only.
And before anyone asks, "Where is it written that we can not have BOTH great sound AND great video?" It is written here. YOU CAN NOT PICK BOTH GREAT AUDIO AND GREAT VIDEO! That's just too easy, and it would end up being the clear winner.
So let's hear it. What means more to you and why. Would you rather have a killer 7.1 sound system and a 20" CRT, or a HTIB and a 100" 1080p knock your socks off display?

[kexodusc]

I went with audio - I find the good, big sound can have a way of involving you in the experience far more than a big picture regardless of video quality. Guess I could cheat and say the HT sound system can also be a killer music system, hence multi-purpose...an advantage over video I guess.
That said, I'm pricing projectors now for the house I'm building this summer so what does that say?

[GMichael]

I'm having a tough time choosing. One minute I want to say audio. There is no substitute for good sound IMO. But then the next minute I'm thinking that for HT all you need are a few speakers and a great picture. Where was HD when Bay Watch was on? (although I was thinking that I could have done without HD during parts of last night's Oscar awards)

[BRANDONH]

I voted for audio but...
It was a tough call for me as well because I have always believed that the audio plays a very important roll for the home theater experience but
now with HD makes it all the better combined with great audio

[ldgibson76]

Audio! Yes, Hi-Def adds to the experience, no doubt, but if the sound isn't adquate or at least up to the standard of the video presentation, the whole experience goes south!
Here's a way to determine what's more important. How much time do you put in to tweaking you picture quality? How much time do you put into tweaking the audio quality. I know I'm always trying experimenting and tweaking the audio ultimately trying to get the best out of my system. You can do alot with the video qualty, but after a while, it is what it is. 720p is 720p. 1080p is 1080p Once the setting for video is in place, It's pretty much a wrap. Not so with audio. The possibilities are endless.

[ldgibson76]

Who the hell picked Video?!!!!!

[GMichael]

OK, I'm still on the fence, but I voted video because I was feeling sorry for it. It's looking like a runaway for audio so far.

[ldgibson76]

OK, I'm still on the fence, but I voted video because I was feeling sorry for it. It's looking like a runaway for audio so far.

You're such a wuss! (only kidding)!

[GMichael]

You're such a wuss! (only kidding)!

Somebody had to spread the love.

[ldgibson76]

Somebody had to spread the love.

I feel ya, man!
By the way, after I check out your photo gallery, I digress, You are no wuss at all! You are the man! As a matter of fact, a straight "Pimp"! The pad gives you away. Mauve walls, blue carpet....That's pimpin! Not to mention the photos of all the babes! Your pimpage is of clandestine nature. And the remote control photo, more evidence of your pimpage!

[ldgibson76]

I feel ya, man!
By the way, after I check out your photo gallery, I digress, You are no wuss at all! You are the man! As a matter of fact, a straight "Pimp"! The pad gives you away. Mauve walls, blue carpet....That's pimpin! Not to mention the photos of all the babes! Your pimpage is of clandestine nature. And the remote control photo, more evidence of your pimpage!

Hey "GM",

I hope I didn't offend you with the "Pimp" colloquialism. It is considered a term of endearment in the urban community! Kinda of like the vernacular, "You've got it going on!"

Again, no criticism intended.

[audio amateur]

I don't think anyone would care for a movie with a million dollar audio system if the screen was 10 inches wide.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Just by virtue of the moniker "Home Theater", isn't the obvious answer Video? You're trying to simulate a movie theater experience, and even though a sound system exists at the theater, the focus is on the picture. That's my opinion.

[ldgibson76]

Just by virtue of the moniker "Home Theater", isn't the obvious answer Video? You're trying to simulate a movie theater experience, and even though a sound system exists at the theater, the focus is on the picture. That's my opinion.

Rich!

You're killin me here! Tell you what, Once your system is up and fully functional, put in the most dynamic action movie you own, then set the 3800 to mono! Better yet, defeat the subwoofer! Believe me, your thrill for great video will diminish quickly. Very similar to the initial delivery of your 3800 and watching Magilla drop it! (I know, that hurt but, I had to hit home to get my point across(smile). It's all about the audio. That gives you the emotion! Watch a movie without the sound! Ya can't do it! Even with subtitles, you need the audio to keep you interested!
Audio, audio, audio! It's why IMAX is IMAX! Yes the picture is astonishing, but the Sound! That's on a whole nutha level!

[Rich-n-Texas]

Rich!

...Once your system is up and fully functional, put in the most dynamic action movie you own

"I'm Batman"

[GMichael]

"I'm Batman"

Have a Snickers. You won't be going anywhere for awhile.

[Feanor]

I know that this is a predominately audio board, but let's see what we get anyhow.
If you had to choose between great audio for your HT system or a great video, what would you choose. Remember, we're talking about HT systems only.
...

For me video pulls ahead. As between HT and music overall, music wins. But my HT system is 98% for TV and movies, so video wins out.

This said, I'm still getting by with a 27" CRT

[Rich-n-Texas]

For me video pulls ahead. As between HT and music overall, music wins. But my HT system is 98% for TV and movies, so video wins out.

This said, I'm still getting by with a 27" CRT

Weren't the pics of my receiver in the cabinet next to my 27" TV any comfort to you at all Feanor?

[Rich-n-Texas]

Watch a movie...

You just proved my case with these three words. You can't watch a movie if there's no video. The visual experience is what your brain processes first and foremost. Seeing what's happeneing is what makes you think to yourself... I knew he/she was going to do that, or wow! I wasn't expecting her to say that. Put it another way... the sound doesn't allow you to judge the difference between right and wrong in say, a movie like Batman, where the good guys and bad guys are visual stimulation to your brain.

I could see though where people's passion for music could cross over into the TV/movie watching realm.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Okay, I just re-read the original post. "Great video or Great audio". I didn't realize the topic was about the quality of the audio or the quality of the video, but if the pic was black & white, and the audio was mono, video would still get my vote.

[ldgibson76]

Okay, I just re-read the original post. "Great video or Great audio". I didn't realize the topic was about the quality of the audio or the quality of the video, but if the pic was black & white, and the audio was mono, video would still get my vote.

Yes, video is where it starts, but the audio keeps you there to the finish!

[GMichael]

Yes, video is where it starts, but the audio keeps you there to the finish!

This may be the key. HT starts with the video. I did spend more on my video than I have on the audio. I have spent many a Sunday watching a football game while the audio was switched to music. I don't remember every listening to a show while watching a concert.

[ldgibson76]

This may be the key. HT starts with the video. I did spend more on my video than I have on the audio. I have spent many a Sunday watching a football game while the audio was switched to music. I don't remember every listening to a show while watching a concert.

Yo "GM"!

Have you really seen the average concert video dvd?!!!! Dude, it's all about the AUDIO! There are some exceptions, but for the most part, the video is usually an after thought. An example: The Eagles "When Hell Freezes Over". DTS no doubt, but that storage wasn't used for video resolution, that was all audio. The same goes for their reunion concert. The video was a little better, but again, audio is what your there for! Now obviously, if you have Hi-Def Cable/Sat, then yes, the video quality is much better, almost on par with the audio, but the audio is still the virtue. And let's not go into concert dvd's on Bluray or HD DVD! Again, Audio! Even though it's in 1080P, the audio is paramount.

Another example of why Audio is more important in Home Theater is because if you read this and other forums......Hi-Res audio is desired now. Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD MA is one of the main reasons HT enthusiast are trying to or have upgraded their AVR's. Having the 1080P is not enough! If the HiRes audio is available, then why not have it?! Get the full experience of High Def. I remember a while back, (early 2007) I was trying to drive home this same point. There were those on this forum who said that standard dolby digital and standard DTS was more than adequate and there would never be that much of a demand for DTHD or DTSHD/MA. This was articulated during a heated blu ray vs hd dvd discussion. I bet if you took a consensus now, that would not play at all!
Just an opinion.

[GMichael]

Yo "GM"!

Have you really seen the average concert video dvd?!!!! Dude, it's all about the AUDIO! There are some exceptions, but for the most part, the video is usually an after thought. An example: The Eagles "When Hell Freezes Over". DTS no doubt, but that storage wasn't used for video resolution, that was all audio. The same goes for their reunion concert. The video was a little better, but again, audio is what your there for! Now obviously, if you have Hi-Def Cable/Sat, then yes, the video quality is much better, almost on par with the audio, but the audio is still the virtue. And let's not go into concert dvd's on Bluray or HD DVD! Again, Audio! Even though it's in 1080P, the audio is paramount.

Another example of why Audio is more important in Home Theater is because if you read this and other forums......Hi-Res audio is desired now. Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD MA is one of the main reasons HT enthusiast are trying to or have upgraded their AVR's. Having the 1080P is not enough! If the HiRes audio is available, then why not have it?! Get the full experience of High Def. I remember a while back, (early 2007) I was trying to drive home this same point. There were those on this forum who said that standard dolby digital and standard DTS was more than adequate and there would never be that much of a demand for DTHD or DTSHD/MA. This was articulated during a heated blu ray vs hd dvd discussion. I bet if you took a consensus now, that would not play at all!
Just an opinion.

All good points.

[Feanor]

Okay, I just re-read the original post. "Great video or Great audio". I didn't realize the topic was about the quality of the audio or the quality of the video, but if the pic was black & white, and the audio was mono, video would still get my vote.

For clarification, to me "great video" is anything better than my CRT.